As if running for political office weren’t enough, candidates running in New Jersey have additional responsibilities when they seek elective office: paperwork, and lots of it.

Garden State elected officials, and those who want to be, are bound by the Election Law Enforcement Commission, which mandates that candidates file New Jersey Campaign Financing and Lobbying Disclosure forms.

The forms, which must be filed on a regular basis, detail contributions from individuals or groups, and the amounts.

Campaign expenses, whether for ads, flyers, signs, or the wood stakes that hold them, must also be recorded.

These reporting requirements became an issue early in the campaign when mayoral candidate Anthony Zanowic and supporters of Mayor Mark Smith questioned whether Police Capt. James Davis was complying. Zanowic went so far as to contact the state to assure that Davis was, or would be, meeting his responsibilities.

The most recent filing for Smith and Davis was April 14; for Zanowic, Feb. 14.

Candidates with the most contributions have to do more reporting. Smith’s report was 66 pages. Davis’s was 29 pages, and Zanowic, who pledged not to take contributions from big corporations, was seven pages.

His report listed deposits of $4,018.74, but disbursements of $3,015.89, with a closing balance of $1,002.85.

Committee to Elect James Davis

Contributions to the Committee to Elect James Davis included donations of $1,500 by campaign manager Joseph DeMarco and $1,250 from campaign aide Robert Wondolowski, and a $1,400 contribution from the Bayonne Teachers Association.